Van Gilst, Karen – 1944–2011

CHEDESTER, COLE, COOL, HODGE, HOLTKAMP, RAMOS, SKOOG, THOMASSON, THOMPSON, UDELHOVEN, VAN GILST, WICKLIFF

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 3/8/2011 at 09:25:34

Karen VanGilst, 66, of Newton died Monday, Feb. 21, 2011, at the Hospice of Jasper County Monarch Wing in Newton.
A funeral service will be at 3 p.m. Friday, Feb. 25, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton with Pastor Mark Young of the First Christian Church in Newton officiating. The family will greet friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, at the Wallace Family Funeral Home in Newton.
In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Hospice of Jasper County or in Karen’s name to be used for organizations important to the family, may be left at the funeral home.
The daughter of Harry and Mabelle (Hodge) Skoog, Karen was born Sept. 9, 1944, in Colorado Springs, Colo. She graduated from Newton Senior High School in 1962 and attended the University of Northern Iowa. On April 16, 1966, she was united in marriage to David Cool in Newton. They were divorced in 1982. She was united in marriage to her second husband, Gary VanGilst, on Dec. 22, 1990, in Killduff.
Karen worked at Newton Manufacturing as a sales and USE tax clerk for 24 years, retiring in 2007. She lived for her grandkids. She enjoyed gardening, going to lunch with friends, cooking and having a laugh with her family and friends.
Karen is survived by her husband, Gary VanGilst of Newton; one son, Brian and Danielle (Holtkamp) Cool of Leawood, Kan.; one daughter, Paula (Cool) and Zane Thompson of Newton; two step-daughters, Lesa (VanGilst) and Steve Chedester of Newton and Jeni (VanGilst) Wickliff and Dave Thomasson of Newton; seven grandchildren, Mackenzie, Brice, and Rylie Udelhoven of Newton, Caroline and Madelyn Cool of Leawood, Kan., and Trista and Trent Thompson of Newton; one brother, Bill and Carol (Paul) Skoog of Altoona; and two nieces, Barb (Skoog) and Rich Ramos of Indianola and Pam (Skoog) and Dan Cole of Pleasant Hill.
She was preceded in death by her parents and a grandson, Grant Cool.
Source: Newton Daily News; Wed., Feb. 23, 2011